Apparel shirt-collar supporter.



WITNESSES:

ASTMOOT AZZome MAY s. MOORE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

APPAREL SHIRT-COLLAR SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,484, dated June 26, 1900.

Application filed April 19, 1900.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAY S. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collar-Stiffeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in collar-stiffeners; and it has for its objects, among others, to provide a simple and cheap stiffener for collars which shall serve effectually to prevent bending of the collar at points Where it is liable to bend and break. It is a we1l-known fact that a ladys collar in order to retain its graceful appearance should not break nor bend, for when once bent or broken it can never be made to assume its original contour. At the same time the collar should be so made as to possess the requisite flexibility to allow it to yield or give to the various movements of the head and neck of the wearer. Various means, such as buckram and the like, have been employed without, however, effectually preventing the breaking of the collar. I have found from many years practical experience in the dressmaking line that the desired result is best attained by means of substantially vertically-disposedstays secured to the lining or stiffening of the collar, which will allow the required flexibility of the collar as regards its circumferential disposition, but which will prevent the breaking by keeping it distended vertically. These vertically-disposed stays may be of any suitable material and may be disposed at any required distances apart, as circumstances may require. They may in some instances be secured to or integral with a circumferentially-disposed stay.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which,with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a view of a collar-stiffener embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar Serial No. 18,479. (No model.)

view showing the stay of somewhat-different form. Fig. 8 is a view of one form of the stay unapplied.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I take a piece of material, such as buckram, as indicated by A, cut to the proper shape and size and suited for a collar lining or stiffening, and affix thereto in any suitable manner, as by sewing or stitching, the stays, which, as seen in the various views, are disposed transversely of the length of the said piece A. In Fig. 1 I have shown these stays as disposed at proper distances apart and extending radially from the center, from which the circular outline of the piece A is struck. These stays may be of any suitable material-such as steel, whalebone, celluloid, or the like-and may be provided with holes or eyelets O, as shown in said Fig. 1, through which the thread D may be passed by the needle, the other ends of the stays B being secured to the piece A by the thread, as shown, although the lower ends of the stays might also be provided with holes or eyelets.

As seen in Fig. 1, the thread is disposed over the stays intermediate their ends; but the manner of attaching the stays to the piece A is not essential.

In Fig. 2 the stays B are shown as secured at their upper ends-thatat the upper edge of the piece A to a band E, of similar material, extending parallel with theupper edge of the said piece A and adapted to be secured thereto in any suitable manner. In this instance the band is provided with holes or eyelets 6 between each two stays for the passage of the needle in attaching the same to the piece A, and the stays are'attached to the band by eyelets, which also permit of the passage of the needle. The lower ends of the stays may be provided with holes or eyelets, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

I may sometimes form the stays and band integral, as indicated in Fig. 3, in which case the eyelets or holes may sometimes be omitted,although their presence is preferred. The band assists the stays in preventing breaking of the collar, and the presence of the stays disposed in the manner shown does not in the least interfere with the flexibility of the stiffener as it is bent around the neck.

It is proposed to manufacture the stiffener in different sizes and shapes to be placed upon the market to be sold for use in the making up of collars, and in some cases I propose to apply a covering of cambric or any other suitable material over the stays and band.

From the above it will be seen that I have devised a novel and efficient collar-stiffener; but while the structural embodiment herein illustrated and described is believed at this time to be preferable I do not desire to limit myself thereto, but reserve the right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations as may come properly Within the scope of the protection prayed.

What is claimed as new is 1. As an improved article of manufacture a collar-stiffener composed of a foundationpiece, and stays disposed transversely of the length thereof, and a band substantially parallel with the top edge of the foundation-piece, as set forth,

2. As an improved article of manufacture 'a collar-stiflener composed of a foundation'-- piece,stays disposed transversely of the length thereof, and a band following the curvature of the upper end of the foundation-piece and having the upper ends of the said stays carried thereby, as set forth.

3. As an improved article of manufacture the collar-stifiener herein described, com-' posed of a foundation-piece of fabric, stays disposed at predetermined distances apart and'disposed at right angles to the length of said piece, and a band parallel with the upper edge of said piece and carrying the stays, the band and stays being provided with open ings for the passage of the securing means, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MAY S. MOORE.

WM. H. J oNEs, 

